Talk:Shady Side Academy

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Contents

[edit] Misc.

Not even close to NPOV. Some alum somewhere can take care of this one... 71.240.111.63 04:50, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

All of this talk about the school's prestige should be cited. "Country" Bushrod Washington 19:33, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

I think the PG has described it as "exclusive" or "prestigious" or something along those lines in relation to Western PA, and I can probably dig that up. To say it is among the most prestigious in the country may be a stretch, so I've removed that. Christopher Parham (talk) 18:55, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Possible Vandalism

User:Random17 continually tries to change the article as it is now to the following:

Shady Side Academy is an independent school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was initially founded as a boy's boarding school in 1883, though the Senior School was only established at its current suburban campus in Fox Chapel in 1921. Fox Chapel High School, Shady Side Academy's other, is a public school offering the same opportunities for free
Criticisms

Clearly, this isn't nearly as good as article's current content. However, I don't want to get tagged for violating 3RR (though his/her edits could be considered vandalism). So I ask, to those in the know: Would edits like this constitute vandalism? "Country" Bushrod Washington 23:51, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

This entire article is a misrepresentation of this school, and only serves to decieve. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Maxtor118 (talk • contribs) . This article caries huge bias. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Maxtor118 (talk • contribs) .

[edit] Ongoing vandalism

As mildly amusing as it's been, it seems that this article spends most of its time having various vandalisms removed. Perhaps it's due time it got some protection. --El benito 02:27, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] References for Notable Alumni

I've gone through the Notable Alumni list and found references for as many as I can. I can't find any for:

If no references can be found by the end of the year, I'll remove them from the list. – Paschmitts 16:09, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Removed – Paschmitts 00:09, 1 January 2007 (UTC)
Added Christian Borle back, with a reference. NickBurns 15:14, 12 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Suggestions

If we want the article to be factual, rather than something that reads like an advertisement for Shady Side Academy, then leave out "prestigious." That's a matter of opinion. If you're going to put that word in the article, you might as well put "pretentious" too (since many people hold that opinion as well). Although, as I read over it again with "prestigious" deleted, it still has a biased feel to it.

We should also consider adding that SSA is "traditional-values oriented" or "conservative." I don't think anyone would disagree with that.

To make it more full and balanced, I suggest we add answers to the following questions:

1. From whom does Shady Side Academy receive donations? From individuals, corporations, or both? See the People for the American Way's article http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=13155&print=yes&units=all for more on this topic. Shady Side's website provides some information on this, too: http://www.shadysideacademy.org/giving/05-06AnnualFundProgresstoDate.html

2. How is Shady Side Academy involved in the community? Does it have a scholarship program for kids who can't afford to go to a private school? What are the details?

These are the questions I would ask if I was doing research on Shady Side Academy. I think most people probably want to know more about SSA than which sports and clubs are offered.

I'll get to work on this in my free time. If anyone else wants to chime in, feel free to do so. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.3.161.120 (talk) 19:58, 18 January 2007 (UTC).


[edit] Vandalism

"Some consider Shady Side to be the most prestigious, but those opinions are limited to those who attend or are employed by Shady Side Academy." There is no citation for this, whereas there is citing for the school being prestigious from an outside source.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.206.252.167 (talk • contribs) 21:54, February 19, 2007

New comments go at the bottom, and please sign your comments. That was part of a string of bullshit spun by Rosemary2003 (talk · contribs), who may have been working through something at the time. We are here for you, Rosemary. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 07:00, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism?

Well, Chris Griswold, this IS an encylopedia which should be filled with facts, not opinions. Why are you getting so pissy, Chris? I think your statement that, "That was part of a string of bullshit spun by Rosemary2003 (talk · contribs), who may have been working through something at the time. We are here for you, Rosemary." was unnecessary, unfair, immature, and insulting. Your goal seems to be to create an advertisement, not factual information. Furthermore, your citation from an outside source is PrepReview.com. I did not see on the website anything that said "Shady Side Academy is one of the most prestigious schools in the country." To state that as a fact would be a lie, but you seem to be okay with that. There is a list of rankings based on the number of graduating students who have been accepted into Ivy League Colleges. There is also a disclaimer that states specifically:

"Any rankings, opinion, advice, article, publication, statement, service, offer, or other information or content expressed or made available on this Web Site or on any site within or linked to the domain of PrepReview.com Web Site, is that of the respective author and should be viewed as subjective and only portray a limited information that may be highly inappropriate in deciding or judging the overall quality of schools."

If you insist on adding prestigious, then make it clear that it is a subjective opinion, not a fact. While attempting to make Shady Side Academy look prestigious, you just made yourself look like a liar and an asshole, which kind of defeats your efforts.

No personal attacks, please. Or at least be more creative. I actually do not have an opinion on anything you discussed above, and skipped over the middle part where you quoted something or other. Anyway, I am much more interested in hearing you defend this edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shady_Side_Academy&diff=109456370&oldid=109271334, which is pretty much garbage. I can wait until after you are done with gymnastics class. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 01:53, 21 February 2007 (UTC)
By the way, some of that's libel, and you are legally responsible for that. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 01:55, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Yes, I did type that. What's Your Point?

Feel free to visit the original uncut version before Chris got upset and cried to his mommy because I edited a Wikipedia page. I'm not defending it, I put it there and showed it some people. We all laughed and then I deleted it. Big deal. You have to ask yourself, Chris. Why is it THAT important to you what people write on Wikipedia. Are you just angry that you put up a source link to something that's not even a reliable source? It states that in its own disclaimer. Please stop vandalizing Wikipedia like that before I report you!

Meow Meow Meow. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 18:02, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Factual accuracy

If you are going to add the tag, you should start a discussion. What are you disputing? --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 23:17, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

I am disputing the comments made about their environmental policy. This article is also just an advertisement for this school.

I don't agree that the article is just an ad, but I do agree that the environment section was a bit POV. But don't add that the school is mediocre unless you have something to back it up. And don't add 15 tags to the article. Because that doesn't look like anything other than vandalism. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 16:51, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Why are you disputing this? What do you think is wrong? --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 05:41, 16 March 2007 (UTC) Additionally, the comment about it being one of the most notable is yet another advertisement, it is cras, and rather unfounded.

[edit] More unreferenced alumni

I cannot find a reference for Gavin McCollum having attended SSA, if none is found in a week, he'll be removed. – Paschmitts 02:27, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Embarassing

Embarrassing, if written by a SSA grad (or if not.) SSA used to be known for teaching writing effectively. Hope this article, which reads in places like mediocre PR, is not an example of the current state of things.

Opening paragraph:

The Academy was initially founded as a boys' day school in 1883 in the East End neighborhood of Shadyside in Pittsburgh; in 1921 the Senior School was established at its current suburban campus in suburban Fox Chapel. This move also resulted in Shady Side becoming a boarding school, first with a traditional seven-day program and later, with a five-day program that the school continues to offer to this day.


"The Academy"--This is SSA jargon.

"initially founded"--redundant

"resulted in . . . becoming a boarding school"--Misleading and ambiguous. School remained primarily a day school with some boarders.

"continues to offer" Wordy--one of many examples.

Organization and emphasis are questionable at best--not much about academics, cost, community involvement, impact of coeducation, current programs, campus (one of SSA's strongest qualities), financial or governance structure. And so on.

Tons of factual ambiguities or errors. A nice example is the acquisition of the middle school campus in Fox Chapel was by donation, not purchase.

Self description as "prestigious" always sounds silly, and especially for a description of SSA, which--for all its good qualities--has often been a hotbed of over concern about prestige.

Were I the editor, I would tell the writer to start all over. Or get a different writer. SSA is an important institution in Pittsburgh, and one of a handful to survive from the 19th to the 21st centuries. The school--and the city--deserve a much better job than this.

Indian61 23:35, 20 July 2007 (UTC)Indian61

[edit] References

For the alumni: Is a school newspaper article quoting a teacher who had both Tunde Adebimpe and Christian Borle in his class a valid reference? I'm guessing it's not, but if it is, I can look it up...Scigirl543 06:17, 24 July 2007 (UTC)